Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck Reviews

The Spirit of the Wheel Meditation Deck combines a study of the Native American medicine wheel with softly coloured, visionary artwork. It has 40 cards illustrated with animal scenes (and some people) along with keywords, and is designed for meditation, affirmations and self-growth.

Review by Solandia

“In moments of quiet reflection, when we sit at the center of the wheel, we are given the opportunity to connection with Creator and view our lives from a high perspective. Here, we begin to understand how each spirit pathway brings us the knowledge and experience necessary to move around each direction we take in life.”

Linda Ewashina believes the medicine wheel teaches the sacred connection to all of creation – “of the interwoven fabric of Creation that links us with all our relations”. She had been studying the medicine wheel for several years when she chanced upon Jody Bergsma’s visionary artwork. From Jody’s collection of paintings came the images for the Spirit of the Wheel deck, each image of myth and nature chosen for the perfect way they reflected the symbols and energies of the medicine wheel.

The 40 cards of the deck represent the 37 traditional, individual stones on the medicine wheel and their meanings on the wheel, plus the three extra ‘power stones’: Stone of Self, Stone of the Ancestors, Stone of the Great Star Nation. They are (very) roughly grouped into celestial spirits like Mother Earth and Father Sun; animal clans like the Turtle Clan; directions (North/South/East/West); the power stones; moon names such as Harvest Moon, and positive qualities like Purity and Illumination. They’re illustrated with animals and scenes of North American nature – deer, frogs, birds, bears, mountain lions, and a few people - in an idealised and mythical style.

Measuring 3.375 x 4.75 inches, the cards are larger than usual but small enough to shuffle. They’re packaged in an inner box with the little white booklet, which is inside the newer mid-size packaging from US Games. Also included is a glossy A2 fold-out spread sheet which has a coloured diagram of the medicine wheel with its 36 positions, each numbered and titled, plus the three extras, the ‘power stones’.

The backs are non-reversible and quite busy. The central part has a wheel design with the four power animals at each direction (bear, buffalo, eagle, and wolf). The top has the text ‘Spirit of the Wheel, the base has ‘All My Relations’. The layout is quite similar to the front of the cards and occasionally hard to pick out a reversed from a non-reversed at a glance. The faces of the cards are similarly packed, with the title at the top, three keywords and the number at the bottom, a central scene and two objects from the scene pulled out and symmetrically placed at the bottom left and right.

The booklet introduces the deck’s concept and creators, and then gives rituals – visualisations – for each of the directions. The section with interpretations gives some keywords, a ‘prophecy’ to help you realise the direction for change or growth, and a prayer: an affirmational paragraph calling on the Great Spirit. There are also three original spreads of seven or eight cards apiece, and a method of spreading the cards to select a single card.

I found it best to use these cards singly, rather than in readings, and to concentrate solely on one message. A multiple card reading is too much and too busy for me, and the uniformly positive messages on the cards make it hard to get an accurate picture of a situation in a reading. It’s best for those who feel an affinity with Native American spirituality and prefer decks that are solely for meditation or inspiring daily affirmations.

Kate Hill (also known as Solandia) is the founder and editor of Aeclectic Tarot, and has reviewed more than 200 decks over the years.

Review by Honor Girl

Because we Native Americans are usually very leery of New Age spiritualism, especially when our beliefs are portrayed by others, I wanted to add my two cents. If you've seen one too many "young braves" and "Indian princesses", these words are for you!

I am Odawa/Potawatomi and believe that Gitchi Manitou did not give all the wisdom to one group of people, so recently became acquainted with oracle cards. I wanted some that I could use to do readings for my family and others back on the rez. This deck portrays clans, moons, and manitous in a reverent, respectful way. The cards invite questions as opposed to hammering out ideas. This is a good cultural match for us, as most NDNs know that we all have to find our own path, and seek our own vision.

The suggested layouts are unique and have a nice feel to them (the pipe and sacred circle are very good). Included is a glossy paper medicine wheel map that felt pretty cheesy to me, so I will replace it with a nice suede mat. The booklet has some powerful ideas to guide you, but the cards are so clear that you will interpret them spontaneously for whatever the situation is.

If you are looking for Native oracle cards that will not offend your ancestors, your family, or your own cultural sensibilities, try this deck. It is probably the one you are seeking.